How to Grow a Dragon

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Dragon fruit, also known as pitaya, pitahaya, or strawberry pear, is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America, and is one of the fruits grown straight from a unique types of cacti.

Kristina strives towards creating gardens where there are as many birds and bees as there are edibles. If you’re growing a variety that has spiny fruits, spines can be brushed off with a clean dustpan brush prior to harvesting. The Dragon tree is a monocot with a branching growth pattern that is currently placed in the asparagus family ( Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoidae).Here’s what you’ll need for hand pollinating: a small, flat paint brush with bristles about one to two inches wide, and a small container or jar for pollen collection. During the growing season, water the plants every one to two weeks, allowing the top inch of the soil to dry out between waterings. If transplanting into a pot, backfill with growing medium, keeping a couple of inches of space between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot to allow room for watering. For faster germination, you can try placing your pot or tray on a heat mat, which can reduce germination time down to a few days.

Dragon fruit usually produces ripe fruit in late summer or fall, but can fruit at almost any time of year if it receives enough water and warmth.Fungal Diseases: Excessive moisture or prolonged high humidity can promote the development of fungal diseases. Pitayas can grow in full sun to part sun, with some cultivars being more tolerant of direct sun and others less so. The fruits of this pitaya variety are round, weighing half a pound to a pound each, and containing pulp that is soft and very juicy.